Friday, February 28, 2014

Super Friday

We had a great day at the temple today the most ordinances done in a day since we arrived. We had a great baptismal session with two groups.  One had lots of priesthood help and the other had lots of kids. It was a bit of a miracle as we were fairly slim on brothers.  But it worked, it always does.  Our last session we had to add a couple of chairs which was great. Since we, of course, can't take pictures inside the temple, enjoy this great picture of the inscription over the door. It really is His house.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Great Humor

I had to take this picture of one of our temple workers when he came into work today.  What a great way to treat a disaster.  His wife forgot to put the guard on the clippers for the first cut through his hair..The magic marker was brilliant.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Paths of Blue

I biked out to see the second sister I visit teach today.  A darling girl who is working through some anxiety issues.  It took 20- 25 minutes to get there, about 3 and a half miles. It was a good way to exercise.  The bike paths are fabulous.  In tricky intersections they are marked with blue.  A great security for  we novices.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

A Little of This..a Little of That

Serving in a small temple offers many opportunities...including repairing clothes...A sewing machine was one of the things I requested for the apartment. A very useful item.

Monday, February 24, 2014

FHE

We had the missionary couples here for Family Home Evening.  We have this great collection of Church History Videos.  Tonight we watched the story of Wilford Woodruff.  From the time he was young he was looking for the church that had prophets and apostles. After the video everyone shared how they came to the church or what strengthened their testimony. Four of them came in as children when the missionaries taught their parents.  All told what a blessing the Word of Wisdom was as their fathers stopped drinking. One sister was baptized after her member husband left the family and the branch president meet her on the street and told her to come to church and they would take care of her.  She is a wonderful temple worker now.
If you don't have this in your Sunday Library, you should.  They are sold at the Distribution Centers and are not very expensive.  We have gone through ours several times.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

In The Details of our Lives

Michelle, on the left, gave her "Farewell" talk in church today.  She is leaving for a mission next week.  She bore testimony of the fact that "The Lord is indeed in the details of our life" as Pres. Monson has stated. Two and a half years ago she was praying to know if the Book of Mormon was true.  She received her witness and also the impression she needed to go to England.  So here she is on her way to the London South Mission with the blessings of her mother( in Zimbabwe) who was against the mission, afraid she would be sent somewhere unsafe.  She is the only member in her family, but her father and cousins came today.  It was a good meeting.
Mona, the girl on the right, is worrying about whether she should go on a mission...and she isn't even  a member yet.  Her cousin had to come home from his mission for an operation on his foot. While here he taught Mona and another cousin. Mona wants to be baptized in the River Jordan, in Israel this summer with all of her extended family, most of whom are members. I'm on the list to be invited to her confirmation when she returns.  Such darling, committed girls.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Fastelavn 2

This afternoon was the Primary's Fastelavn Party.  I invited our neighbor, Amanda, and her mother Jana.  A good time was had by all.  Amanda was a little shy at the first but by the end was doing the limbo with the other kids.
Adults and children dressed up. Marie Antoinette was a winner. Amanda was DocMcStuffins from the Disney Channel.  (Wonder what she sounds like in Danish)
Note the food: Fastelavn boller (which have been in the bakeries all month), cake and carrots.
 Everyone lines us and takes turns, one whack each, until the wooden barrel finally breaks and the candy falls out.  Actually after the candy fell they kept hitting until there was nothing of the barrel left.
They set up another one for the adults and the missionaries who soon made short work of it.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Fastelavn I

Fastelavn - Shrovetide - Carnival is celebrated on the last Sunday before the start of Lent, usually in February. Fastelavn is set for March 2 in 2014.
Fastelavn is a dress-up or costume party, similar to Halloween, mainly for children. The climax of the action is the smashing of a barrel, which contains treats.

The child that succeeds in smashing open the barrel is named fastelavn king or queen. However, no one goes away empty-handed. All the kids at the party are treated to shares of the candy.

In the old days, a live cat was placed inside the barrel. When the barrel gave in, the frightened creature was chased out of town – and presumed to take with it evil spirits. Today, the barrel might be decorated or painted with cat drawings, or contain a plush cat amongst the treats
.Fastelavn preparations at our local Fotex (Wallmart sort of store)

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Teaboller med chokolade

This is one of those things that makes Denmark so fun.. rolls with chocolate chips.  There is just enough to satisfy that little chocolate craving,

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Spring Trim

I saw this out my kitchen window this morning. I love my kitchen window.  I see so many interesting things and people.  I would be nice to have someone do this in your backyard.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Monthly Missionary Dinner

I'm sure I have written about the monthly missionary dinner at the Knudsens.  He is the cook and always comes up with something wonderful.  Tonight it was a sort of smoked ham which was fabulous.  They boil their ham here.

There were 6 young  missionaries and 5 couples.  It is a nice connection with the various type missionaries.
                                                   Keeping potatoes hot for 20 people
                                             The cream gravy had white asparagus in it.  Very nice.

Monday, February 17, 2014

En Dejlig Dag

Today was a beautiful day, could almost feel Spring in the air.  I went visiting teaching...on bike.  It was a good excuse for some exercise.  The sister I was assigned just came back from 34 years in America.  She may go back as she is homesick for "home".  She has worked as a stand-in for movies and is a beautiful woman.  We had a good visit and it was fun to get a peak into such an interesting life.
    This house has nothing to do with the visit, but it is so picturesque and really represents the beautiful day today was.  If you look close you can see some little flowers in the front left of the picture.  Individual homes are pretty rare in the middle of Copenhagen. Most people live in apartments.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Amager Branch

Today we spoke in the Amager Branch, just on the other side of Copenhagen.  It is a small; branch and most of the couple missionaries have been assigned there by the mission president. I had a translator bu I think there were only three in the small audience that didn't understand English.  A nice little group.
 The building is small by very well organized with classrooms in the basement and a nice kitchen off the main room.  Even a nice bishop's office.
Afterward they had had SOS: sandwiches Sandwich and Slaegtforskning (family  history).  A good idea.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

An Excellent Visit

  Brother Blake Rosenvall from the Church's Temple Department has been here for two days.  It was an excellent visit and we learned so much.  He was very kind in his remarks and is our major connection between us and Salt Lake.  Again it was emphasized how important the temples are and how close they are to the prophet's heart and interest.  Love, Reverence, Patrons and Quality were the key words.

Friday, February 14, 2014

I Wish..

  I wish I could take a picture of the wonderful spirit and things that happened at the temple today.  We had a most helpful visit from Bro. Rosenvall from the Temple Department. He came with so much good advice and instruction.  Then there has been a group here for three days from Esberg, on the other side of Denmark, who have had such good experiences.  One of the sisters did the work for her Great Great Grandmother and her five daughters including baptism, initiatories and session.  She died at the birth of her 12th child.  It was a sweet experience to help in the initiatories.
    This picture of the temple tonight as we came home...with the moon  ( which we seldom see) will hopefully give you a feeling of the great day we had.



Thursday, February 13, 2014

Spring in the Window


Danes love flowers and plants. You can buy them at every grocery store. I bought these two weeks ago and have watched them grow and bloom.  A lovely breath of Spring.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Disney Denmark

  I found this while shopping yesterday. It always surprises me a little that things I think are so American make it just as big here.

Who wouldn't want to eat castles, pumpkins, princesses and carriages?

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Good Deal

It makes me so happy when I find something from home here that we use and like at the same price we pay in America.  This is their version of bran flakes and was on sale today for between three and four dollars each.  Great!

Monday, February 10, 2014

The Swans are Out

 It was 44 degrees and sun all day.  It felt a little like Spring, even some birds singing.  I rode my bike to the lakes by the city. The swans were out doing their spring preening.... on ice, Swans are much lovelier swimming.....

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Easier Than I Thought.....

  I just posted my mother's biography to the Church's Family Tree.  I am feeling quite clever that I was able to finish it and figure out how to add it.  Some of the grandchildren have been asking and this is a good way for everyone to be able to see it.  Easier than I thought.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

9 years ago...

 About nine years ago Jim and I went to Greenland to organize a little branch there with two families.  Today the son of one of the families came to the temple with his fiancee' who happens to be the granddaughter of our counselor. It was so great to see him and his sister again.  I didn't get a picture, but will when they all come for the wedding in March.
     This picture of the Temple Door is a nice symbol of the wonderful path and blessings which are open to her because of her entrance into the temple today.


Friday, February 7, 2014

15 to the Dozen

I don't quite understand the way things are put together here but when you buy a carton of eggs you get 15.  Does it have to do with the decimal system they are on?  Who knows.  We do do like them and have an omelet every Friday night at 9:30 when we get home from the temple.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Nap Time

I took this picture from the temple missionaries' apartment across the street.  She says the baby goes out for all naps.  The temperature was probably in the low 30's.  The babies are all tucked away in feather comforters and no doubt very comfortable.  It was the mother trying to keep warm as she rocked the buggy from the door that was tricky.
 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Heart Attack

We woke up to this lovely surprise on our front door.  It took some planning as they had to have someone let them into the building.

It was either the Primary or maybe an  Activity Days's project. They referred to us as Pres. and Sis. Williams and had written cute things on the hearts.  Some you can figure out: I er sa sodel, Jer har talent, Jer are kreative. Very sweet.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Frikadeller

Frikadeller are a Danish favorite.  They are made with ground pork and beef mixed together, flour, egg, onion and salt and pepper.  I'm sure there are other recipes with different herbs or spices, but this works great for us.  The best part, is that I have made enough to last for 4 or 5 meals.  Just pull them out of the freezer and warm up.  They are great with potatoes, gravy and red cabbage. They also work on the open-faced sandwiches.  

Monday, February 3, 2014

Shopping

 Monday and Tuesday are our days to shop.  Today I rode the bike to 4 different stores and came home after each to deposit what I had bought.  It is good exercise and I enjoy being out in the fresh air. But I am definitely not out for fashion.
   

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Missionary Transfers

We have three sets of missionaries in our Frederiksberg Ward. One from each set is being transferred tomorrow.  I missed the really good picture where there were many children clustered around the missionary to say good-bye.  But this gives you an idea of how much our missionaries are loved and appreciated.
The mission presidents have had quite a challenge to get the big wave of missionaries in and situated.  That has now slowed, especially through the winter months, until school is out.  They have had to open areas and will now need to shut some down.

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Wedding 2

We do not have the abundance of weddings that many temples do. So it is unusual to have two in the same week.  But this was the week.  Our wedding today was a couple who met on their missions in Greece. She is from Germany and he is from Denmark. It seems there are many missionaries called from Denmark to Greece.  The queen of Denmark's little sister married the king of Greece, he has since been deposed.  I'm not sure how much success they have in the church but I can think of lots of marriages that have come out of the mission.
Besides the snow, this wedding had a lot of American touches.  The bridesmaids all showed up in variations of the same color and if you look closely, you can see bubbles being blown.
 One of the bridesmaids and her husband work at the England MTC and we know the from there....small world.